Mobile gaming alert

ABSTRACT

Various embodiments of alerts on mobile devices are described. In some embodiments, one or more gaming preferences registered for a mobile device may be read. A set of games that are not implicated by any of the gaming preferences registered for the mobile device, but that have high rates of coincidence of alert registration relative to other sets of games associated in a register with the plurality of other devices, may be identified. In some embodiments, an estimate of a correlation among user interests in a subset of a plurality of games may be determined based on the number of devices registered to receive alerts for the games in the subset. One or more games of interest for which the first device is not registered to receive alerts may be identified for a first user based on the estimate. Other embodiments are described.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of Ser. No. 12/367,566,filed Feb. 9, 2009 U.S. Pat. No. 8,150,956, which is hereby incorporatedby reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This patent application relates generally to gaming.

SUMMARY

This patent application describes methods and apparatus, includingcomputer program products, for the creation and communication of gamingalerts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a mobile alert message viewed on a display.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system including a gaming server and agaming event detector.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an event match identification process.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an event match identification process.

FIG. 5 is a chart of alert registrations.

FIG. 6 is a chart showing a matrix of alert registration coincidences.

Like reference numerals in different figures indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following sections I-X provide a guide to interpreting the presentapplication.

I. TERMS

The term “product” means any machine, manufacture and/or composition ofmatter, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The term “process” means any process, algorithm, method or the like,unless expressly specified otherwise.

Each process (whether called a method, algorithm or otherwise)inherently includes one or more steps, and therefore all references to a“step” or “steps” of a process have an inherent antecedent basis in themere recitation of the term ‘process’ or a like term. Accordingly, anyreference in a claim to a ‘step’ or ‘steps’ of a process has sufficientantecedent basis.

The term “invention” and the like mean “the one or more inventionsdisclosed in this application”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “an embodiment”, “embodiment”, “embodiments”, “theembodiment”, “the embodiments”, “one or more embodiments”, “someembodiments”, “certain embodiments”, “one embodiment”, “anotherembodiment” and the like mean “one or more (but not all) embodiments ofthe disclosed invention(s)”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The term “variation” of an invention means an embodiment of theinvention, unless expressly specified otherwise.

A reference to “another embodiment” in describing an embodiment does notimply that the referenced embodiment is mutually exclusive with anotherembodiment (e.g., an embodiment described before the referencedembodiment), unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “including”, “comprising” and variations thereof mean“including but not limited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expresslyspecified otherwise.

The term “plurality” means “two or more”, unless expressly specifiedotherwise.

The term “herein” means “in the present application, including anythingwhich may be incorporated by reference”, unless expressly specifiedotherwise.

The phrase “at least one of”, when such phrase modifies a plurality ofthings (such as an enumerated list of things) means any combination ofone or more of those things, unless expressly specified otherwise. Forexample, the phrase “at least one of a widget, a car and a wheel” meanseither (i) a widget, (ii) a car, (iii) a wheel, (iv) a widget and a car,(v) a widget and a wheel, (vi) a car and a wheel, or (vii) a widget, acar and a wheel. The phrase “at least one of”, when such phrase modifiesa plurality of things does not mean “one of each of” the plurality ofthings.

Numerical terms such as “one”, “two”, etc. when used as cardinal numbersto indicate quantity of something (e.g., one widget, two widgets), meanthe quantity indicated by that numerical term, but do not mean at leastthe quantity indicated by that numerical term. For example, the phrase“one widget” does not mean “at least one widget”, and therefore thephrase “one widget” does not cover, e.g., two widgets.

The phrase “based on” does not mean “based only on”, unless expresslyspecified otherwise. In other words, the phrase “based on” describesboth “based only on” and “based at least on”. The phrase “based at leaston” is equivalent to the phrase “based at least in part on”.

The term “represent” and like terms are not exclusive, unless expresslyspecified otherwise. For example, the term “represents” does not mean“represents only”, unless expressly specified otherwise. In other words,the phrase “the data represents a credit card number” describes both“the data represents only a credit card number” and “the data representsa credit card number and the data also represents something else”.

The term “whereby” is used herein only to precede a clause or other setof words that express only the intended result, objective or consequenceof something that is previously and explicitly recited. Thus, when theterm “whereby” is used in a claim, the clause or other words that theterm “whereby” modifies do not establish specific further limitations ofthe claim or otherwise restricts the meaning or scope of the claim.

The term “e.g.” and like terms mean “for example”, and thus does notlimit the term or phrase it explains. For example, in the sentence “thecomputer sends data (e.g., instructions, a data structure) over theInternet”, the term “e.g.” explains that “instructions” are an exampleof “data” that the computer may send over the Internet, and alsoexplains that “a data structure” is an example of “data” that thecomputer may send over the Internet. However, both “instructions” and “adata structure” are merely examples of “data”, and other things besides“instructions” and “a data structure” can be “data”.

The term “respective” and like terms mean “taken individually”. Thus iftwo or more things have “respective” characteristics, then each suchthing has its own characteristic, and these characteristics can bedifferent from each other but need not be. For example, the phrase “eachof two machines has a respective function” means that the first suchmachine has a function and the second such machine has a function aswell. The function of the first machine may or may not be the same asthe function of the second machine.

The term “i.e.” and like terms mean “that is”, and thus limits the termor phrase it explains. For example, in the sentence “the computer sendsdata (i.e., instructions) over the Internet”, the term “i.e.” explainsthat “instructions” are the “data” that the computer sends over theInternet.

Any given numerical range shall include whole and fractions of numberswithin the range. For example, the range “1 to 10” shall be interpretedto specifically include whole numbers between 1 and 10 (e.g., 1, 2, 3,4, . . . 9) and non-whole numbers (e.g., 1.1, 1.2, . . . 1.9).

Where two or more terms or phrases are synonymous (e.g., because of anexplicit statement that the terms or phrases are synonymous), instancesof one such term/phrase does not mean instances of another suchterm/phrase must have a different meaning. For example, where astatement renders the meaning of “including” to be synonymous with“including but not limited to”, the mere usage of the phrase “includingbut not limited to” does not mean that the term “including” meanssomething other than “including but not limited to”.

II. DETERMINING

The term “determining” and grammatical variants thereof (e.g., todetermine a price, determining a value, determine an object which meetsa certain criterion) is used in an extremely broad sense. The term“determining” encompasses a wide variety of actions and therefore“determining” can include calculating, computing, processing, deriving,investigating, looking up (e.g., looking up in a table, a database oranother data structure), ascertaining and the like. Also, “determining”can include receiving (e.g., receiving information), accessing (e.g.,accessing data in a memory) and the like. Also, “determining” caninclude resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, and the like.

The term “determining” does not imply certainty or absolute precision,and therefore “determining” can include estimating, extrapolating,predicting, guessing and the like.

The term “determining” does not imply that mathematical processing mustbe performed, and does not imply that numerical methods must be to used,and does not imply that an algorithm or process is used.

The term “determining” does not imply that any particular device must beused. For example, a computer need not necessarily perform thedetermining.

III. FORMS OF SENTENCES

Where a limitation of a first claim would cover one of a feature as wellas more than one of a feature (e.g., a limitation such as “at least onewidget” covers one widget as well as more than one widget), and where ina second claim that depends on the first claim, the second claim uses adefinite article “the” to refer to the limitation (e.g., “the widget”),this does not imply that the first claim covers only one of the feature,and this does not imply that the second claim covers only one of thefeature (e.g., “the widget” can cover both one widget and more than onewidget).

When an ordinal number (such as “first”, “second”, “third” and so on) isused as an adjective before a term, that ordinal number is used (unlessexpressly specified otherwise) merely to indicate a particular feature,such as to distinguish that particular feature from another feature thatis described by the same term or by a similar term. For example, a“first widget” may be so named merely to distinguish it from, e.g., a“second widget”. Thus, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers “first” and“second” before the term “widget” does not indicate any otherrelationship between the two widgets, and likewise does not indicate anyother characteristics of either or both widgets. For example, the mereusage of the ordinal numbers “first” and “second” before the term“widget” (1) does not indicate that either widget comes before or afterany other in order or location; (2) does not indicate that either widgetoccurs or acts before or after any other in time; and (3) does notindicate that either widget ranks above or below any other, as inimportance or quality. In addition, the mere usage of ordinal numbersdoes not define a numerical limit to the features identified with theordinal numbers. For example, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers“first” and “second” before the term “widget” does not indicate thatthere must be no more than two widgets.

When a single device, article or other product is described herein, morethan one device/article (whether or not they cooperate) mayalternatively be used in place of the single device/article that isdescribed. Accordingly, the functionality that is described as beingpossessed by a device may alternatively be possessed by more than onedevice/article (whether or not they cooperate).

Similarly, where more than one device, article or other product isdescribed herein (whether or not they cooperate), a singledevice/article may alternatively be used in place of the more than onedevice or article that is described. For example, a plurality ofcomputer-based devices may be substituted with a single computer-baseddevice. Accordingly, the various functionality that is described asbeing possessed by more than one device or article may alternatively bepossessed by a single device/article.

The functionality and/or the features of a single device that isdescribed may be alternatively embodied by one or more other deviceswhich are described but are not explicitly described as having suchfunctionality/features. Thus, other embodiments need not include thedescribed device itself, but rather can include the one or more otherdevices which would, in those other embodiments, have suchfunctionality/features.

IV. DISCLOSED EXAMPLES AND TERMINOLOGY ARE NOT LIMITING

Neither the Title (set forth at the beginning of the first page of thepresent application) nor the Abstract (set forth at the end of thepresent application) is to be taken as limiting in any way as the scopeof the disclosed invention(s), is to be used in interpreting the meaningof any claim or is to be used in limiting the scope of any claim. AnAbstract has been included in this application merely because anAbstract is required under 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b).

The title of the present application and headings of sections providedin the present application are for convenience only, and are not to betaken as limiting the disclosure in any way.

Numerous embodiments are described in the present application, and arepresented for illustrative purposes only. The described embodiments arenot, and are not intended to be, limiting in any sense. The presentlydisclosed invention(s) are widely applicable to numerous embodiments, asis readily apparent from the disclosure. One of ordinary skill in theart will recognize that the disclosed invention(s) may be practiced withvarious modifications and alterations, such as structural, logical,software, and electrical modifications. Although particular features ofthe disclosed invention(s) may be described with reference to one ormore particular embodiments and/or drawings, it should be understoodthat such features are not limited to usage in the one or moreparticular embodiments or drawings with reference to which they aredescribed, unless expressly specified otherwise.

Though an embodiment may be disclosed as including several features,other embodiments of the invention may include fewer than all suchfeatures. Thus, for example, a claim may be directed to less than theentire set of features in a disclosed embodiment, and such claim wouldnot include features beyond those features that the claim expresslyrecites.

No embodiment of method steps or product elements described in thepresent application constitutes the invention claimed herein, or isessential to the invention claimed herein, or is coextensive with theinvention claimed herein, except where it is either expressly stated tobe so in this specification or expressly recited in a claim.

The preambles of the claims that follow recite purposes, benefits andpossible uses of the claimed invention only and do not limit the claimedinvention.

The present disclosure is not a literal description of all embodimentsof the invention(s). Also, the present disclosure is not a listing offeatures of the invention(s) which must be present in all embodiments.

All disclosed embodiment are not necessarily covered by the claims (evenincluding all pending, amended, issued and canceled claims). Inaddition, an embodiment may be (but need not necessarily be) covered byseveral claims. Accordingly, where a claim (regardless of whetherpending, amended, issued or canceled) is directed to a particularembodiment, such is not evidence that the scope of other claims do notalso cover that embodiment.

Devices that are described as in communication with each other need notbe in continuous communication with each other, unless expresslyspecified otherwise. On the contrary, such devices need only transmit toeach other as necessary or desirable, and may actually refrain fromexchanging data most of the time. For example, a machine incommunication with another machine via the Internet may not transmitdata to the other machine for long period of time (e.g. weeks at atime). In addition, devices that are in communication with each othermay communicate directly or indirectly through one or moreintermediaries.

A description of an embodiment with several components or features doesnot imply that all or even any of such components/features are required.On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described toillustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the presentinvention(s). Unless otherwise specified explicitly, nocomponent/feature is essential or required.

Although process steps, algorithms or the like may be described orclaimed in a particular sequential order, such processes may beconfigured to work in different orders. In other words, any sequence ororder of steps that may be explicitly described or claimed does notnecessarily indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in thatorder. The steps of processes described herein may be performed in anyorder possible. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneouslydespite being described or implied as occurring non-simultaneously(e.g., because one step is described after the other step). Moreover,the illustration of a process by its depiction in a drawing does notimply that the illustrated process is exclusive of other variations andmodifications thereto, does not imply that the illustrated process orany of its steps are necessary to the invention(s), and does not implythat the illustrated process is preferred.

Although a process may be described as including a plurality of steps,that does not imply that all or any of the steps are preferred,essential or required. Various other embodiments within the scope of thedescribed invention(s) include other processes that omit some or all ofthe described steps. Unless otherwise specified explicitly, no step isessential or required.

Although a process may be described singly or without reference to otherproducts or methods, in an embodiment the process may interact withother products or methods. For example, such interaction may includelinking one business model to another business model. Such interactionmay be provided to enhance the flexibility or desirability of theprocess.

Although a product may be described as including a plurality ofcomponents, aspects, qualities, characteristics and/or features, thatdoes not indicate that any or all of the plurality are preferred,essential or required. Various other embodiments within the scope of thedescribed invention(s) include other products that omit some or all ofthe described plurality.

An enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does notimply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unlessexpressly specified otherwise. Likewise, an enumerated list of items(which may or may not be numbered) does not imply that any or all of theitems are comprehensive of any category, unless expressly specifiedotherwise. For example, the enumerated list “a computer, a laptop, aPDA” does not imply that any or all of the three items of that list aremutually exclusive and does not imply that any or all of the three itemsof that list are comprehensive of any category.

An enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does notimply that any or all of the items are equivalent to each other orreadily substituted for each other.

All embodiments are illustrative, and do not imply that the invention orany embodiments were made or performed, as the case may be.

V. COMPUTING

It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that thevarious processes described herein may be implemented by, e.g.,appropriately programmed general purpose computers, special purposecomputers and computing devices. Typically a processor (e.g., one ormore microprocessors, one or more microcontrollers, one or more digitalsignal processors) will receive instructions (e.g., from a memory orlike device), and execute those instructions, thereby performing one ormore processes defined by those instructions. Instructions may beembodied in, e.g., one or more computer programs, one or more scripts.

A “processor” means one or more microprocessors, central processingunits (CPUs), computing devices, microcontrollers, digital signalprocessors, or like devices or any combination thereof, regardless ofthe architecture (e.g., chip-level multiprocessing/multi-core, RISC,CISC, Microprocessor without Interlocked Pipeline Stages, pipeliningconfiguration, simultaneous multithreading).

Thus a description of a process is likewise a description of anapparatus for performing the process. The apparatus that performs theprocess can include, e.g., a processor and those input devices andoutput devices that are appropriate to perform the process.

Further, programs that implement such methods (as well as other types ofdata) may be stored and transmitted using a variety of media (e.g.,computer readable media) in a number of manners. In some embodiments,hard-wired circuitry or custom hardware may be used in place of, or incombination with, some or all of the software instructions that canimplement the processes of various embodiments. Thus, variouscombinations of hardware and software may be used instead of softwareonly.

The term “computer-readable medium” refers to any medium, a plurality ofthe same, or a combination of different media, that participate inproviding data (e.g., instructions, data structures) which may be readby a computer, a processor or a like device. Such a medium may take manyforms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media,and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example, opticalor magnetic disks and other persistent memory. Volatile media includedynamic random access memory (DRAM), which typically constitutes themain memory. Transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wire andfiber optics, including the wires that comprise a system bus coupled tothe processor. Transmission media may include or convey acoustic waves,light waves and electromagnetic emissions, such as those generatedduring radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data communications.Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppydisk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magneticmedium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, papertape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM,an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrierwave as described hereinafter, or any other medium from which a computercan read.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carryingdata (e.g. sequences of instructions) to a processor. For example, datamay be (i) delivered from RAM to a processor; (ii) carried over awireless transmission medium; (iii) formatted and/or transmittedaccording to numerous formats, standards or protocols, such as Ethernet(or IEEE 802.3), SAP, ATP, Bluetooth□, and TCP/IP, TDMA, CDMA, and 3G;and/or (iv) encrypted to ensure privacy or prevent fraud in any of avariety of ways well known in the art.

Thus a description of a process is likewise a description of acomputer-readable medium storing a program for performing the process.The computer-readable medium can store (in any appropriate format) thoseprogram elements which are appropriate to perform the method.

Just as the description of various steps in a process does not indicatethat all the described steps are required, embodiments of an apparatusinclude a computer/computing device operable to perform some (but notnecessarily all) of the described process.

Likewise, just as the description of various steps in a process does notindicate that all the described steps are required, embodiments of acomputer-readable medium storing a program or data structure include acomputer-readable medium storing a program that, when executed, cancause a processor to perform some (but not necessarily all) of thedescribed process.

Where databases are described, it will be understood by one of ordinaryskill in the art that (i) alternative database structures to thosedescribed may be readily employed, and (ii) other memory structuresbesides databases may be readily employed. Any illustrations ordescriptions of any sample databases presented herein are illustrativearrangements for stored representations of information. Any number ofother arrangements may be employed besides those suggested by, e.g.,tables illustrated in drawings or elsewhere. Similarly, any illustratedentries of the databases represent exemplary information only; one ofordinary skill in the art will understand that the number and content ofthe entries can be different from those described herein. Further,despite any depiction of the databases as tables, other formats(including relational databases, object-based models and/or distributeddatabases) could be used to store and manipulate the data typesdescribed herein. Likewise, object methods or behaviors of a databasecan be used to implement various processes, such as the describedherein. In addition, the databases may, in a known manner, be storedlocally or remotely from a device which accesses data in such adatabase.

Various embodiments can be configured to work in a network environmentincluding a computer that is in communication (e.g., via acommunications network) with one or more devices. The computer maycommunicate with the devices directly or indirectly, via any wired orwireless medium (e.g. the Internet, LAN, WAN or Ethernet, Token Ring, atelephone line, a cable line, a radio channel, an optical communicationsline, commercial on-line service providers, bulletin board systems, asatellite communications link, a combination of any of the above). Eachof the devices may themselves comprise computers or other computingdevices, such as those based on the Intel® Pentium® or Centrino™processor, that are adapted to communicate with the computer. Any numberand type of devices may be in communication with the computer.

In an embodiment, a server computer or centralized authority may not benecessary or desirable. For example, the present invention may, in anembodiment, be practiced on one or more devices without a centralauthority. In such an embodiment, any functions described herein asperformed by the server computer or data described as stored on theserver computer may instead be performed by or stored on one or moresuch devices.

Where a process is described, in an embodiment the process may operatewithout any user intervention. In another embodiment, the processincludes some human intervention (e.g., a step is performed by or withthe assistance of a human).

VI. CONTINUING APPLICATIONS

The present disclosure provides, to one of ordinary skill in the art, anenabling description of several embodiments and/or inventions. Some ofthese embodiments and/or inventions may not be claimed in the presentapplication, but may nevertheless be claimed in one or more continuingapplications that claim the benefit of priority of the presentapplication.

Applicants intend to file additional applications to pursue patents forsubject matter that has been disclosed and enabled but not claimed inthe present application.

VII. 35 U.S.C. §112, PARAGRAPH 6

In a claim, a limitation of the claim which includes the phrase “meansfor” or the phrase “step for” means that 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6,applies to that limitation.

In a claim, a limitation of the claim which does not include the phrase“means for” or the phrase “step for” means that 35 U.S.C. §112,paragraph 6 does not apply to that limitation, regardless of whetherthat limitation recites a function without recitation of structure,material or acts for performing that function. For example, in a claim,the mere use of the phrase “step of” or the phrase “steps of” inreferring to one or more steps of the claim or of another claim does notmean that 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6, applies to that step(s).

With respect to a means or a step for performing a specified function inaccordance with 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6, the corresponding tostructure, material or acts described in the specification, andequivalents thereof, may perform additional functions as well as thespecified function.

Computers, processors, computing devices and like products arestructures that can perform a wide variety of functions. Such productscan be operable to perform a specified function by executing one or moreprograms, such as a program stored in a memory device of that product orin a memory device which that product accesses. Unless expresslyspecified otherwise, such a program need not be based on any particularalgorithm, such as any particular algorithm that might be disclosed inthe present application. It is well known to one of ordinary skill inthe art that a specified function may be implemented via differentalgorithms, and any of a number of different algorithms would be a meredesign choice for carrying out the specified function.

Therefore, with respect to a means or a step for performing a specifiedfunction in accordance with 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6, structurecorresponding to a specified function includes any product programmed toperform the specified function. Such structure includes programmedproducts which perform the function, regardless of whether such productis programmed with (i) a disclosed algorithm for performing thefunction, (ii) an algorithm that is similar to a disclosed algorithm, or(iii) a different algorithm for performing the function.

Where there is recited a means for performing a function that is amethod, one structure for performing this method includes a computingdevice (e.g., a general purpose computer) that is programmed and/orconfigured with appropriate hardware to perform that function.

Also included is a computing device (e.g., a general purpose computer)that is programmed and/or configured with appropriate hardware toperform that function via other algorithms as would be understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art.

VIII. DISCLAIMER

Numerous references to a particular embodiment do not indicate adisclaimer or disavowal of additional, different embodiments, andsimilarly references to the description of embodiments which all includea particular feature do not indicate a disclaimer or disavowal ofembodiments which do not include that particular feature. A cleardisclaimer or disavowal in the present application shall be prefaced bythe phrase “does not include” or by the phrase “cannot perform”.

IX. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Any patent, patent application or other document referred to herein isincorporated by reference into this patent application as part of thepresent disclosure, but only for purposes of written description andenablement in accordance with 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 1, and should inno way be used to limit, define, or otherwise construe any term of thepresent application, unless without such incorporation by reference, noordinary meaning would have been ascertainable by a person of ordinaryskill in the art. Such person of ordinary skill in the art need not havebeen in any way limited by any embodiments provided in the reference

Any incorporation by reference does not, in and of itself, imply anyendorsement of, ratification of or acquiescence in any statements,opinions, arguments or characterizations contained in any incorporatedpatent, patent application or other document, unless explicitlyspecified otherwise in this patent application.

X. PROSECUTION HISTORY

In interpreting the present application (which includes the claims), oneof ordinary skill in the art shall refer to the prosecution history ofthe present application, but not to the prosecution history of any otherpatent or patent application, regardless of whether there are otherpatent applications that are considered related to the presentapplication, and regardless of whether there are other patentapplications that share a claim of priority with the presentapplication.

XI. GAMES

In this application the term game refers to an event with a plurality ofpossible outcomes and a payout associated with each outcome. Games mayalso include a wager. Games may be played by a user called a player. Aplayer plays a game by selecting one or more outcomes from the set ofoutcomes for the event. In some cases the player may also specify awager for one or more of the selected outcomes. In other cases there maybe a default wager. A wager of zero may be valid for some games. If aselected outcome occurs, the player wins which causes winnings to accrueto the player.

Winnings may be just a payout or a function of both a wager and thepayout associated with a realized outcome. In cases where winnings are afunction of both a wager and a payout, the payout may be a unitlessscale factor. In general winnings may be monetary or non-monetary. Forexample, winnings may be money, points, or other prizes. Money may takethe form of cash, credit, tokens that may be redeemed for cash, orreductions in debt.

One example of a game is wagering on whether a baseball pitcher willearn a save. In this example there 2 outcomes: yes or no. Examplepayouts might be yes→1.3*W_(y), no→1.7*W_(n), where W_(y) and W_(n) arewagers on the respective outcomes. For example, a player may select theyes outcome before the event takes place, in this case, before thepitcher plays the remainder of the baseball game. The player specifies awager for the outcome, such as W_(y)=$10. If the pitcher earns a save,the player accrues winnings of $13. If the pitcher does not earn a save,the player accrues no winnings. Equivalently, this scenario can bedescribed as a wager of W_(y)=$10 and W_(n)=$0. In some cases nonzerowagers on multiple outcomes may be allowed.

Another example of a game has an event which is a tennis match betweentwo particular tennis players, Player A and Player B. This event mayhave six possible outcomes: Player A wins in 3 sets, Player A wins in 4sets, Player A wins in 5 sets, Player B wins in 3 sets, Player B wins in4 sets, Player B wins in 5 sets. Each of these possible outcomes mayhave a different payouts associated with them. In this example, all sixoutcomes have a payout of 4 times the wager associated with the outcome.A first player of the game specifies a wager of 5 units on the outcomethat Player B wins in 4 sets. A second player of the game specifies awager of 2 units on each of the outcomes that have Player A winning thetennis match. If Player A in fact wins the tennis match in 5 sets, thenthe first player accrues winnings of zero. The second player accrueswinnings of 8 units.

In another example game, the event is a political election with threecandidates running in the election. The set of possible outcomes isdefined to be: Candidate A wins the election, Candidate B wins theelection, or Candidate C wins the election. The associated payouts mightbe Candidate A wins→2*W_(A), Candidate B wins→2*W_(B), Candidate Cwins→3*W_(C).

In another example game, the event is a storm making landfall at aparticular location. The possible outcomes are defined to be: thecategory of the storm is 3 or less when landfall occurs, the category ofthe storm is 4, or the category of the storm is 5. The payouts may be100 weather prediction score points for a correct prediction, with theselection of only one outcome allowed. A first player of the gameselects the category 4 outcome. A second player selects the category 3or less outcome. The storm in fact makes landfall as a category 2 storm.In this case, the first player accrues no winnings while the secondplayer accrues 100 weather prediction score points.

Just about any event can be used as the predicate event for a game. Fora given event, the set of possible outcomes may be partitioned ininnumerable ways to define different games. The possibility that anevent does not take place as scheduled or expected can be treated as apossible outcome and assigned a payout, such a 1 times a wager. Further,events can be defined as composites of other events. What is importantis that a player has an opportunity to select outcomes and/or wagersbefore the player is aware of the true outcome of the underlying event.

XII. ALERTS

In this application the term alert refers to a message sent to a mobiledevice that identifies one or more games with events that are scheduledto occur. A mobile device is an electronic device that is capable ofsending and receiving wireless communication signals and may be operatedon battery power. Alerts may be sent at configurable times in relationto, for example, the identification of the scheduled event or the timeat which the event is scheduled to occur. The alert message may includea description of the event and a description of the game. Thedescription of the game may include a listing of the possible outcomesdefined for the event and the payouts associated with each outcome. Thedescription of the game may also describe limits on allowed wagers. Analert may prompt a user for a response. An alert may be formatted andpersonalized to the recipient or the sender.

FIG. 1 shows a display of information from an example alert for the caseof the pitcher save game describe in section XI. The display 100includes a header portion 110 which has been customized for the senderof the alert, which in this case is a casino. The display also includesa greeting portion 120 personalized to the recipient of the alert. Thedisplay includes an event information portion 130 that displaying textdescribing the event that is scheduled to occur. The event informationincludes a time when the event is scheduled to occur. The eventinformation portion may also include graphics or video related theevent. The display includes a game description portion 150 thatidentifies one or more games associated with the event. In the depictedexample, one game is identified. The game description portion includes alisting of the two possible outcomes defined for this game and theirassociated payouts. The display also includes a response prompt portion170 that requests a response from the player receiving the alert.

The display of the alert may include multiple pages or views that allowmore detail on particular aspects of the alert to be viewed by theplayer receiving the alert upon request. For example, clicking on anicon or link may access alternate views that display more detail on aparticular aspect of the alert information.

An alert may include an audio component. For example, the mobile devicemay play a ring tone when an alert is received. Alerts may includerecorded voice messages.

In some embodiments alert massages may cause a mobile device to vibrate.

The presentation of an alert may vary as a function of the sensedlocation of the mobile device that receives the alert. For example, whenthe mobile device is located in area that is usually crowded or loud,such as the main floor of a casino, an audio component of the alert maybe played at a high volume level or induce vibration of the mobiledevice.

A response prompt portion may provide a link to a gaming serviceprovider website. A response prompt may optionally solicit wagerinformation from a player receiving the alert. A range of allowed wagersmay be specified and wagers solicited in the display by using a slidingbar that allows the player to click or drag to select an allowed wager.Wagers may also be input through a text interface.

XIII. GAMING PREFERENCE

In this application the term gaming preference refers to informationindicative of one or more games that a user has interest in. The gamingpreference may also specify certain parameters of a game, such as adefault wager or how far in advance of the actual event, the alertmessages should be sent to the user. A gaming preference may identify aset of games directly, for example through the use of assigned gameidentifiers. Alternatively a gaming preference may specify gamesindirectly by describing the events associated with games of interest orother aspects of games that are of interest.

The direct identification of games by a user may be facilitated byproviding a listing of available games and an interface for browsingand/or searching the listing. A listing of games may be organized inlogical categories and the selection of all games in one or morecategories may be one allowed method of specifying a gaming preference.Searching of a listing of available games may be done with textsearching of game names, of event descriptions, or other meta dataassociated with the games.

One way to specify games of interest indirectly is to allow the user toenter a text query related to events of interest. This text query may betransmitted as part of a gaming preference to a gaming service provider.The provider may store the gaming preference and use the text query tosearch game or event descriptions at times in the future. The textqueries may be conducted using any text searching techniques, such asnatural language queries or more structured operator based queries.

A gaming preference may also include other optional parametersspecifying how alerts should be handled or other aspects of the gamingexperience. For example, a gaming preference may specify the timing ofalert transmissions. The timing can be specified in relation to when theevent underlying a game of interest is first detected or in relation towhen the event is scheduled to occur. Another parameter that may bespecified in a gaming preference is a default wager for a game ofinterest.

An example gaming preference in the indirect style is

-   -   “golf tournament tiger woods”, {24 hours prior}        In this case, the gaming preference includes a text string that        can be matched to gaming event descriptions using text searching        techniques. This gaming preference might match games that have        been set up relating to Tiger Woods participation in a golf        tournament, such as will Tiger Woods win the Masters Tournament        (yes, no); what place will Tiger finish the a tournament in        (1^(st) place, 2^(nd) place, . . . disqualified); or what will        tiger shoot at the U.S. Open (5 under, 4 under, more than 4        under, etc.). Alerts would be sent 24 hours before the gaming        event, most likely a golf tournament in this case, is scheduled        to commence.

XIV. PLAYER INTERFACE

A player or end user may access gaming services through a mobile device.A mobile device is an electronic device that is capable of sending andreceiving wireless communication signals and may be operated on batterypower. Mobile devices may include one or more user output componentssuch as a display or speaker. Mobile devices may include one or moreuser input components such as a keypad, touchpad, or touch-screen. Someexample mobile devices are a cell phone, a personal digital assistant(PDA), or a dedicated mobile gaming device with a hardware interfacecustomized for gaming applications.

A mobile device may also be configured to determine its geographiclocation with respect to reference points. In some jurisdictionsgambling activities are legally restricted to designated areas. Forexample, a casino may be licensed offering gambling services only tocustomers physically located within its place of business. A casino mayalso choose to limit mobile gaming activities to certain designatedareas within a building. Therefore it is desirable to enable a mobiledevice that is used by a player to access gaming services to detectwhether or not the device is currently located within a designated area.

In some embodiments, a mobile device may include a location detector.The location detector may be a GPS (Global Positioning System) baseddetector. In alternative embodiments, a location detector may comprise aBluetooth device. For example, a location detector may be a Bluetoothtransceiver that either reads Bluetooth information from other Bluetoothdevices such as devices having beacons. The Bluetooth information maydiffer depending on which Bluetooth device is supplying information,such that the Bluetooth device may be identified. Alternatively, alocation detector may be a wireless network receiver or transceiver thatcan at least read information, including beacon information, from one ormore wireless networking devices such as wireless networking accesspoints. A location detector may analyze signal strength values receivedfrom various wireless signal sources such as beacons (e.g. Bluetoothbeacons) or signal strength values received via wireless networkingcomponent or external system interface to determine a current location.A location detector may receive multiple signal strength indicationsrepresenting signal strengths from multiple wireless signal sources suchas beacons for Bluetooth devices or access points and use the signalstrength values to determine a location for the mobile device.Additionally, a location detector may be able to determine a positionbased on the timing of the arrival of signals such as beacon signalsfrom various types of wireless devices. In still further embodiments, alocation detector may be an inertial guidance based system.

In some embodiments, the mobile device may be configured as a thinclient for gaming applications that does little more than convey inputand output signals to and from a gaming server. For example softwarecontrolling the graphical user interface for gaming applications may berun on a remote gaming server.

XV. GAMING SERVER

A gaming server communicates with a mobile device to a provide playerusing the mobile device with access to gaming services. A gaming serversupports one or more games that players can play by accessing either thegaming server or a related server. A gaming server allows registrationof players or mobile devices to receive alerts related to one or moresupported games. A gaming server allows a player to submit gamingpreference data that is stored for later use in generating alerts. Aplayer may enter gaming preference data through a mobile device which isthen relayed to the gaming server. When a event associated with a gameis scheduled to occur, the gaming server sends alerts to all mobiledevices that have been identified in submitted gaming preference data asa destination for alerts related to the game. A mobile device identifiedas a destination for alerts by information stored by the gaming serveris said to be registered to receive alerts. Similarly, gamingpreferences are said to be registered when they are received by a gamingserver and used to update alert registration information.

A gaming server includes or has access to a data storage device thatstores information related to supported games and registered players ormobile devices. For example, the data storage device may be hard drivethat is accessed via a bus or the data storage device may be a databaseserver that is accessed via a communications network, such as anInternet Protocol network. The information related to supported gamesmay include, for example, descriptions of the event underlying a game,payouts, or other rules and meta data. The information related toplayers may include, for example, gaming preferences, a uniqueidentifier for a mobile device associated with the player, orinformation sufficient to contact the mobile device such as a networkaddress.

In one embodiment, the information regarding player gaming preferencesthat is stored on the data storage device is organized by supportedgames. The information for each supported game includes a list of playeror mobile device identification information for mobile devicesregistered to receive alerts related to the game.

In another embodiment, the information regarding player gamingpreferences that is stored on the data storage device is organized byplayer or mobile device. The information for each registered mobiledevice includes one or more gaming preferences. These gaming preferencesmay be stored as one or more gaming preference records. These gamingpreferences may also be stored as unified list of supported games thatmobile device is registered to receive alerts for.

XVI. GAMING EVENT DETECTION

To provide timely alerts to registered mobile devices, a gaming serverdetermines when an instance of a supported game event is scheduled tooccur. A gaming event detector is used process incoming datastreams andextract information regarding scheduled game events. A gaming eventdetector may be an integrated component of a gaming server.Alternatively, a gaming event detector may be a separate device thatpasses information regarding detected game events to one or more gamingservers.

In this application a current event refers to an event with an outcomethat is expected to be revealed in the future. Some example currentevents include a scheduled tennis match, playoff at the end of golftournament ending in a tie, a baseball pitcher being inserted into agame with a save opportunity, a weather forecast, or an election. Newsdatastream refers to information sent over a communications network by anews provider that includes descriptions of current events. A newsdatastream may comprise, for example, a sequence of data bearing packetsor a circuit switched connection between a gaming event detector and aremote device operated by a news provider.

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary mobile alert system 200. The mobile alertsystem 200 includes a gaming server 210 which is configured to acceptgaming preference registrations from and send alerts to mobile devicesvia a network interface 215. The network interface 215 may be wirelessinterface that allows direct communication with mobile devices.Alternatively, the network interface may allow transmissions to and froma network including one or more wireless access points that in turncommunicate directly with mobile devices. The gaming server is alsoconnected to a local area network (LAN) 230 that allows it tocommunicate with other components in the mobile alert system 200. Thesystem also includes data storage device 240 for storing informationregarding supported, registered gaming preferences, or other alertrelated data. The data stored on the data storage device 240 may beaccessed by the gaming server 210 via the LAN 230. The system alsoincludes a gaming event detector 250, which is able to access the datastorage device 240 and communicate with the gaming server 210 via theLAN 230. The gaming event detector receives one or more data streamsfrom providers of news via a network interface 255. In normal operation,the gaming server 210 updates alert registration information stored inthe data storage device 240. The gaming event detector 250 processesincoming datastreams bearing news to extract information about eventsrelated to game events or registered gaming preferences. The detectoraccesses information regarding supported games or gaming preferencesstored in the data storage device 240 in order to complete thisprocessing. When game events are detected, the detector 250 sendsformatted messages summarizing the detected events to the gaming server210. The gaming server 210 in turn sends alerts corresponding to thedetected events to all mobile devices registered to receive thosealerts.

In other embodiments, a gaming server may be more closely integratedwith the gaming event detector. For example, the gaming server and theevent detector may be software run on the same processing device.

In other embodiments, a gaming server may be more remote from the gamingevent detector. For example, the gaming server and the event detectormay be located at distant locations and communicate over a wide arenetwork (WAN). The gaming server and the event detector may be operatedby different entities. A remote gaming event detector may store a copyof data related to supported games or gaming preferences in its ownlocal data storage device. In this case the stored data may be updatedin response to synchronization or update messages sent by a remotegaming server.

A gaming event detector outputs messages summarizing current eventsrelated to supported games or registered gaming preferences. Thesemessages are sent to a gaming server. The messages are formatted so thatthe gaming server may decode the new data and easily determine whatsupported games or which gaming preferences are implicated by the newdata. The gaming server may then generate resulting alerts that will beforwarded to registered mobile devices. For example, the messages may beformatted as extensible markup language (XML) messages. XML is used tocreate a tagging scheme that allows elements of a document to be markedaccording to their content rather than their format.

Alerts may be sent to a mobile device as soon as a current eventimplicating the alert is detected. Alternatively, alerts may be queuedand sent at later times configured in accordance with parameters of theassociated gaming preference. For example, a gaming preference mayimplicate Game A and include a parameter that requests alerts to be sentone hour prior to the scheduled time for the event associated with GameA. If news regarding the scheduling of an instance of the event isdetected two days prior to scheduled time, then this information may bestored in timed release buffer. When the designated time arrives, thealert may be generated and/or sent to the mobile device and thecorresponding entry cleared from the buffer. The timed release buffermay be implemented as a linked list of transmission time slots, whereeach slot includes a linked list of scheduled alerts to be generatedand/or sent.

When alerts are generated, they incorporate information from the gamingevent detector regarding the gaming event detected. The alerts may alsobe customized for the gaming server it is being sent from or the mobiledevice it is to be sent to. In this manner a gaming event detector maybe shared by multiple gaming servers.

XVII. SHARING GAMING PREFERENCES AND ALERTS

Players may wish to share gaming preferences or alerts with otherplayers. Some embodiments facilitate the sharing of gaming preferencesor alerts by players or across multiple mobile devices.

In one embodiment, gaming preferences may be registered for multiplemobile devices by including information identifying multiple mobiledevices in a single gaming preference registration communication.Authentication information may be required for each mobile deviceregistered in this manner.

In another embodiment, a gaming server may facilitate sharing of gamingpreferences by providing a forwarding service that allows players topropose gaming preferences to other players in messages that areforwarded to a player's mobile device by the gaming server. Thesemessages may drive an interface on a mobile device to make registering aproposed gaming preference easy for the player receiving the message.For example, registering a proposed gaming preference may require onlyclicking an icon or link in the message.

In another embodiment, a gaming server may facilitate sharing of alertsby providing a forwarding service that allows players to forwardreceived alerts to other players in messages that are forwarded to aplayer's mobile device by the gaming server.

In another embodiment, a gaming service may make a player directoryavailable to registered players. The player directory may includecontact information such as a network address for a mobile deviceassociated with a player. The accessibility of a player's contactinformation in the directory to other players may be controlled orconfigured by that player. Players may use contact information from theplayer directory to directly send alerts or gaming preference proposalmessages to the mobile devices of other players.

XVIII. PREDICTING GAMING PREFERENCES

To promote mobile gaming activity it is helpful to inform players aboutwhat games are supported by a gaming server. Since the number ofsupported games may be large, it is desirable to focus limited marketingmaterials on supported games that a particular player is most likely tohave interest in. The games a player is most likely to have interest inmay be predicted based in part on the player's existing alertregistration information as well as patterns in the alert registrationsof all players registered to receive alerts. Once the games most likelyto be of interest to a particular player are identified, a gaming servermay market those games to the player through messages sent to a mobiledevice that suggest the registration of a gaming preference implicatingthe identified game or games. The identified games may also be promotedthrough other targeted advertising directed to the player.

Given a set of supported games and a set of players or mobile devicesregistered to receive alerts for one or more of those games, it ispossible to identify patterns of coincident interest in certain games.Coincidence of registration is when a single mobile device is registeredto receive alerts for all games in a subset of the supported games.Coincidence of registration for subsets of the supported games may beused to predict which games a player using a particular mobile device ismost likely to be interested in. The basic idea is that if many of theplayers registered to receive alerts for one game are also registered toreceive alerts for a second game, then it is likely that a playerregistered for the first game, but not the second game, would beinterested in learning about the second game. This concept can beextended to larger subsets in cases where having mobile devices thathave larger groups of games in common gives more information than manypairwise matches spread over a larger group of mobile devices.

FIG. 5 is a chart of alert registrations for an example scenario of agaming server supporting four games (A-D) with five mobile devices (1-5)registered to receive alerts for one or more of the games. In the chart,if a mobile device is registered to receive alerts for a supported game,the corresponding entry is a one. Otherwise the corresponding entry is azero. This alert registration scenario will be used to illustrate gamingpreference prediction method described below.

One method for identifying and tracking alert registration patterns isto maintain a coincidence matrix for the supported games. A coincidencematrix is a symmetric square matrix that has rows and columns for eachgame supported by the gaming server. Each entry of the coincidencematrix is the number of mobile devices registered to receive alerts forboth the game corresponding to the row and the game corresponding to thecolumn. FIG. 6 shows a coincidence matrix representing coincidence ofregistration for all pairs of supported games for the registrationscenario depicted in FIG. 5. The first row and first column correspondto game A. The second row and second column correspond to game B, and soon.

The games a player is most likely to be interested in can be predictedusing the coincidence matrix and the player's existing gamingpreferences. The gaming preferences associated with a mobile device maybe represented as a binary registration vector corresponding to one ofthe rows in the chart of FIG. 5. This registration vector may bemultiplied by the coincidence matrix to calculate an interest vectorthat represents the relative likelihoods that the player will beinterested in each of the supported games. Next, entries in the interestvector corresponding to games the player already is registered toreceive alerts for are removed or zeroed. Finally, the remaining entriesmay be sorted to identify which of the remaining supported games aremost likely to be of interest to the player. The remaining entry withthe maximum value is most likely to be of interest and so on for as manygames as desired.

For example, in the scenario of FIG. 5, mobile device 4 has aregistration vector of [0 1 0 1]^(T). Multiplying this registrationvector by the coincidence matrix of FIG. 6 results in an interest vectorof [1 4 3 5]^(T). Zeroing the second and fourth entries, because mobiledevice 4 is already registered to receive alerts for games B and D,results in an interest vector of [1 0 3 0]^(T). The maximum remainingentry is the three associated with game C. Therefore the method predictsthat the player using mobile device 4 is most likely to be interested ingame C.

For scenarios with more supported games, sparse matrix techniques may beused to simplify the calculations including the matrix multiplication.The coincidence matrix may be generated each time a marketingapplication is run. Alternatively, the coincidence matrix may be storedand updated each time a new gaming preference is registered or deletedin the gaming server. In the example of FIG. 6, only half of the entriesneed to be stored because of the symmetry properties. This storagerequirement may be further reduced using sparse matrix techniques.

The coincidence of registrations are calculated for each defined subsetby testing the registered gaming preferences of each mobile device andcounting the number of mobile devices that are registered for all gamesin the subset. The coincidences of registration for each subset may bestored for later use in predicting which supported games the playerusing a particular mobile device would most likely be interested in.These stored coincidence of registration values may be updated each timea gaming preference is registered or deleted. For example, this processmay be used to generate the coincidence matrix elements of FIG. 6, whichis a case where all of the defined subsets are pairs of supported games.This process may also be applied to calculate coincidence ofregistration values for defined subsets with more than two members.

A prediction of which games will be of interest to a player may bedetermined by adding coincidence of registration values for definedsubsets for which the player is not registered for exactly one of thegames in the subset. A interest indicator value may be calculated foreach supported game that satisfies two criteria: (i) the player is notcurrently registered to receive alerts for the game; and (ii) the gameis the only game in at least one defined subset that the player is notcurrently registered to receive alerts for. An interest indicator valueis calculated by adding the coincidence of registration values for allsubsets satisfying criterion (ii). The coincidence of registrationvalues added to calculate an interest indicator value may optionally beweighted differently. For example, subsets of larger sizes may beweighted more heavily. Games with the largest interest indicator valuesare then selected as the games the player is most likely to beinterested in.

Another method for identifying alert registration patterns predictinggames of interest is to start by analyzing the alert registrations of aparticular player and considering only defined subsets of the supportedgames for which the player is registered to receive alerts for all butone missing member of the subset. Coincidence of registration value maythen be calculated on as needed basis to reduce complexity in certaincircumstances.

Messages sent to a mobile device to suggest games of interest mayinclude descriptions of the games, including descriptions the eventand/or a schedule for upcoming instances of the event. Messagessuggesting games of interest may also prompt a player to submit apreformatted gaming preference that has been generated to implicate oneor more games of interest. For example, the player may be prompted toregister the gaming preference by clicking a link.

FURTHER EMBODIMENTS

The following should be interpreted as further embodiments and not asclaims.

A—A method comprising:

-   -   receiving a datastream describing news;    -   extracting one or more descriptions of current events from the        datastream;    -   identifying event matches based on the one or more descriptions        of current events and event descriptions associated with games;        and    -   transmitting data describing event matches to a remote device.    -   A.1—The method of claim A, wherein the data describing event        matches includes information identifying a game and information        regarding the current event, including the time when the current        event is scheduled to occur.    -   A.2—The method of claim A, further comprising formatting the        data in an XML format.    -   A.3—The method of claim A, further comprising identifying mobile        devices that are registered to receive alerts regarding event        matches.    -   A.4—The method of claim A.3, wherein the transmitted data also        includes lists of mobile devices that are registered to receive        alerts regarding event matches.

B—A system comprising:

-   -   a data storage device storing information regarding a plurality        of games, wherein a game includes a wager, an event with a        plurality of possible outcomes, and a payout associated with        each outcome, and wherein the stored information includes, for        each game, a list of mobile devices registered to receive alerts        associated with the game; and    -   a processing device configured to:        -   receive data comprising information related to the games;        -   identify matches between information in the data and one or            more games by searching game information stored in the data            storage device; and        -   for each match, generate at least one alert message for each            mobile device registered to receive alerts associated with            the game, wherein the alert message includes a summary of            information from the data regarding the game including when            a game event is scheduled to occur.    -   B.1—The system of claim B, further comprising a server        configured to transmit an alert generated by the processing        device to a mobile device identified as the target of the alert.    -   B.2—The system of claim B.1, wherein the server transmits alerts        to the mobile device upon receipt from the processing device.    -   B.3—The system of claim B.1, wherein the server stores an alert        and transmits it to the mobile device at one or more configured        times prior to the scheduled gaming event.    -   B.4—The system of claim B.3, wherein the alert transmission        times are determined at least in part by gaming preference data.    -   B.5 The system of claim B.1, wherein the server is further        configured to:    -   receive a request from the mobile device that an the alert be        forwarded to a second mobile device; and    -   transmit the alert to the second mobile device.

C—A method comprising:

-   -   specifying a gaming preference with gaming preference data        indicative of one or more games; and    -   transmitting the gaming preference data to a server.    -   C.1—The method of claim C, wherein the gaming preference data        includes a default wager.    -   C.2—The method of claim C, further comprising transmitting        information identifying a mobile device to receive alerts        regarding the gaming preference.    -   C.3—The method of claim C.2, further comprising transmitting        information specifying the timing of future alert messages.    -   C.4—The method of claim C.2, further comprising transmitting        information identifying an additional mobile device to receive        alerts regarding the gaming preference.    -   C.5—The method of claim C.2, further comprising transmitting a        request to the gaming server for gaming preference data to be        forwarded to a different mobile device.    -   C.6 The method of claim C, further comprising receiving        confirmation that the server received the gaming preference        data.    -   C.7 The method of claim C.6, further comprising receiving        confirmation that the gaming preference data is valid and has        been registered by the server.    -   C.8 The method of claim C.7, further comprising receiving a list        of games matching the gaming preference data.

D—A method comprising:

-   -   receiving an alert message via a wireless communication        transmission from a server, wherein the alert message includes        information describing a game and a scheduled game event,        wherein a game includes an event with a plurality of possible        outcomes, a wager, and a payout associated with each outcome.    -   D.1—The method of claim D, further comprising transmitting wager        information for a game identified in the alert to a server.    -   D.2—The method of claim D, wherein the alert message is received        using a mobile gaming device that checks whether the mobile        gaming device is currently located within a designated area for        gaming.    -   D.3—The method of claim D, further comprising forwarding the        alert to a second mobile device.    -   D.4—The method of claim D.3, wherein the forwarding comprises        sending a request to the server that the alert be sent to the        second mobile device.

E—An apparatus comprising:

-   -   a wireless communication transmitter and receiver configured to        transmit signals to a server and receive signals from the        server, wherein the server is programmed to access information        associated with a plurality of games, each game including a        wager, an event with a plurality of possible outcomes, and a        payout associated with each outcome, and wherein the transmitter        and receiver are further configured to:        -   transmit gaming preference data to the server, the gaming            preference data including data indicative of one or more            games; and        -   receive confirmation regarding the validity of the gaming            preference and registration of the gaming preference from            the gaming server;    -   a display for displaying information about games and gaming        preferences; and    -   a data entry device for inputting gaming preference data.    -   E.1—The apparatus of claim E, further comprising a device that        detects geographic location of the mobile device.    -   E.2—The apparatus of claim E.1, wherein the device that detects        geographic location of the mobile device includes global        positioning service receiver.

F—A method comprising:

-   -   receiving a datastream describing news;    -   extracting one or more current event descriptions from the        datastream;    -   identifying event matches based on the one or more current event        descriptions and gaming preferences; and    -   transmitting data describing event matches to a remote device.    -   F.1—The method of claim F, further comprising, for each event        match, generating an event match record including information        identifying a gaming preference and information regarding the        current event, including the time when the event is scheduled to        occur.    -   F.2—The method of claim F, wherein the transmitting data        comprises formatting the data in an XML format.    -   F.3—The method of claim F, further comprising identifying mobile        devices that are registered to receive alerts regarding the        event matches.

G—A system comprising:

-   -   a data storage device storing gaming preferences that include        data indicative of one or more games and data identifying at        least one mobile device registered to receive alerts regarding        the games, wherein a game includes a wager, an event with a        plurality of possible outcomes, and a payout associated with        each outcome; and    -   a processing device configured to:        -   receive data comprising information related to one or more            games;        -   identify matches between information in the data and one or            more gaming preferences by searching gaming preferences            stored in the data storage device; and        -   for each match, generate an alert message summarizing            information from the data regarding games described by the            gaming preference.

H—A computer readable medium encoded with computer executableinstructions which, when executed, direct a computer to perform themethod of claim A.

I—A computer readable medium encoded with computer executableinstructions which, when executed, direct a computer to perform themethod of claim G.

J—A method comprising:

-   -   reading alert registration data from a data storage device that        stores records describing a plurality of games, wherein each        record includes a list of mobile devices registered to receive        alerts regarding the game;    -   determining the number of mobile devices registered to receive        alerts for all of the games in a subset of the plurality of        games consisting of two or more games;    -   determining an estimate of the correlation among user interests        in the subset of games based at least in part on the count; and    -   storing the estimate.    -   J.1—The method of claim J, wherein the subset of games is a pair        of games.    -   J.2—The method of claim J wherein the subset of games includes        three games.    -   J.3—The method of claim J, further comprising:    -   counting the number of mobile devices registered to receive        alerts for each pair of the plurality of games;    -   calculating estimates of the correlations between user interest        in the pairs of games based at least in part on the counts; and    -   storing the estimates of the correlations.    -   J.4 The method of claim J.3, further comprising:    -   reading a list of games that a mobile device is registered to        receive alerts for; and    -   summing the estimates of the correlations for pairs that include        the games the mobile device is currently registered to receive        alerts for to and a game that the users is not currently        registered to receive alerts for; and    -   identifying one or more games of interest that the mobile device        is not currently registered to receive alerts for, based at        least in part on the sum associated with that game or games.    -   J.5 The method of claim J.4, further comprising transmitting a        list of games of interest for the mobile device.    -   J.6 The method of claim J.4, further comprising:    -   identifying a gaming preference that, if adopted by a user for a        mobile device, would register the mobile device to receive        alerts for the games of interest;    -   transmitting a message proposing the gaming preference.

K—A method comprising:

-   -   reading one or more gaming preferences registered for a mobile        device; and    -   identifying a set of games which are not implicated by any of        the gaming preferences registered for the mobile device but that        have high rates of coincidence of alert registration relative to        other sets of games described in a register of gaming preference        registrations for a plurality of mobile devices.    -   K.1—The method of claim K, further comprising transmitting a        list of games of interest for the mobile device.    -   K.2 The method of claim K, further comprising:    -   identifying a gaming preference that, if adopted by a user for a        mobile device, would register the mobile device to receive        alerts for the games of interest;    -   transmitting a message proposing the gaming preference.

Elements of different embodiments described herein may be combined toform other embodiments not specifically set forth above. Otherembodiments not specifically described herein are also within the scopeof the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: reading, by at least oneprocessor, alert registration data from a data storage device thatstores records describing a plurality of games, wherein each recordincludes a list of mobile devices registered to receive alerts regardingone of the plurality of games; determining, by the at least oneprocessor, the number of mobile devices registered to receive alerts forall of the games in a subset of the plurality of games consisting of twoor more games, the mobile devices comprising a first mobile deviceassociated with a first user, the first mobile device not beingregistered to receive alerts for at least one of the plurality of games;determining, by the at least one processor, an estimate of a correlationamong user interests in the subset of games based at least in part onthe determination of the number of mobile devices registered to receivealerts for all of the games in a subset of the plurality of games;storing, by the at least one processor, the estimate; and based at leastin part on the determined estimate of the correlation among userinterests in the subset of games, identifying, by the at least oneprocessor, for the first user one or more games of interest for whichthe first mobile device is not currently registered to receive alerts.2. The method of claim 1, wherein the subset of games is a pair ofgames, further comprising transmitting to the first mobile device analert concerning the one or more games of interest.
 3. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the subset of games includes three games.
 4. The methodof claim 1, further comprising: identifying a plurality of pairs ofgames of the plurality of games, the pairs of games comprising a uniquesubset of two games of the plurality of games; counting the number ofmobile devices registered to receive alerts for each pair of theplurality of games; calculating estimates of the correlations betweenuser interest in the pairs of games based at least in part on thecounts; and storing the estimates of the correlations.
 5. The method ofclaim 4, in which the act of identifying for the first user one or moregames of interest for which the first mobile device is not currentlyregistered to receive alerts comprises: reading a list of games forwhich a mobile device is registered to receive alerts; summing theestimates of the correlations for pairs that include the games for whichthe mobile device is currently registered to receive alerts and a gamethat the users is not currently registered to receive alerts for; andidentifying one or more games of interest that the mobile device is notcurrently registered to receive alerts for, based at least in part onthe sum associated with that game or games.
 6. The method of claim 5,further comprising transmitting a list of games of interest for themobile device.
 7. The method of claim 5, further comprising: identifyinga gaming preference that, if adopted by a user for a mobile device,would register the mobile device to receive alerts for the games ofinterest; and transmitting a message proposing the gaming preference. 8.A method comprising: reading one or more gaming preferences registeredfor a mobile device; and identifying a set of games which are notimplicated by any of the gaming preferences registered for the mobiledevice but that have high rates of coincidence of alert registrationrelative to other sets of games described in a register of gamingpreference registrations for a plurality of mobile devices.
 9. Themethod of claim 8, further comprising transmitting a list of games ofinterest for the mobile device.
 10. The method of claim 8, furthercomprising: identifying a gaming preference that, if adopted by a userfor a mobile device, would register the mobile device to receive alertsfor the games of interest; and transmitting a message proposing thegaming preference.
 11. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor;and at least one memory having instructions stored thereon which, whenexecuted by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processorto: read alert registration data from a data storage device that storesrecords describing a plurality of games, wherein each record includes alist of mobile devices registered to receive alerts regarding one of theplurality of games; determine the number of mobile devices registered toreceive alerts for all of the games in a subset of the plurality ofgames consisting of two or more games, the mobile devices comprising afirst mobile device associated with a first user, the first mobiledevice not being registered to receive alerts for at least one of theplurality of games; determine an estimate of a correlation among userinterests in the subset of games based at least in part on thedetermination of the number of mobile devices registered to receivealerts for all of the games in a subset of the plurality of games; storethe estimate; and based at least in part on the determined estimate ofthe correlation among user interests in the subset of games, identifyfor the first user one or more games of interest for which the firstmobile device is not currently registered to receive alerts.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 11, wherein the subset of games is a pair of games,and wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least oneprocessor, further direct the at least one processor to transmit to thefirst mobile device an alert concerning the one or more games ofinterest for which the first mobile device is not currently registeredto receive alerts.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the subset ofgames includes three games.
 14. The apparatus of claim 11, in which theinstructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further causethe at least one processor to: identify a plurality of pairs of games ofthe plurality of games, the pairs of games comprising a unique subset oftwo games of the plurality of games; count the number of mobile devicesregistered to receive alerts for each pair of the plurality of games;calculate estimates of the correlations between user interest in thepairs of games based at least in part on the counts; and store theestimates of the correlations.
 15. The method of claim 14, in which theact of identifying for the first user one or more games of interest forwhich the first mobile device is not currently registered to receivealerts comprises: reading a list of games that a mobile device isregistered to receive alerts for; summing the estimates of thecorrelations for pairs that include the games for which the mobiledevice is currently registered to receive alerts and a game that theusers is not currently registered to receive alerts for; and identifyingone or more games of interest that the mobile device is not currentlyregistered to receive alerts for, based at least in part on the sumassociated with that game or games.
 16. The method of claim 15, in whichthe instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, furthercause the at least one processor to transmit a list of games of interestfor the mobile device.
 17. The method of claim 15, in which theinstructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further causethe at least one processor to: identify a gaming preference that, ifadopted by a user for a mobile device, would register the mobile deviceto receive alerts for the games of interest; and transmit a messageproposing the gaming preference.
 18. An apparatus comprising: at leastone processor; and at least one memory having instructions storedthereon which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the atleast one processor to: read one or more gaming preferences registeredfor a mobile device; and identify a set of games which are notimplicated by any of the gaming preferences registered for the mobiledevice but that have high rates of coincidence of alert registrationrelative to other sets of games described in a register of gamingpreference registrations for a plurality of mobile devices.